Piero Hincapie is happy about his transfer move in last summer. The Gunners defender is proud of himself that many top European clubs tried to sign him. But he is satisfied to join Arsenal.
Was Arsenal moving for Piero Hincapie a good decision?
Two seasons back, Piero Hincapie had just won the 2023-24 Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen. The Ecuadorian was one of the key players in that squad. His defensive abilities helped him and the club to clinch the Bundesliga trophy.
Fast forward in time, the 24-year-old is one of the starting defenders for Arteta’s Arsenal. The South American centre back had joined the Gunners last summer from Bayer Leverkusen. It was a loan deal which had a provisional obligation to purchase the player permanently. Hincapie has delivered good performances on numerous occasions. So, the English club has triggered the €52 million buy clause to make the deal permanent from next season.
Soon after joining the London side, the young defender picked up a groin injury. He had to go through a surgery and this had postponed his Premier League debut. Eventually, he got his first minutes in Arsenal colours in late October against Crystal Palace. Since then, the Spanish coach has played him in his usual centre back role or as left back.
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Key Statistic:
So far, Piero Hincapie has scored 1 goal and has 2 assists in 36 games this season. Here are some of his defensive statistics, as per Sofascore.
Defending Stats per 90 mins
Tackles 2.0
Interceptions 1.0
Aerial duels won 1.4
Arsenal
Why did Piero Hincapie thank God regarding his transfer move?
Arteta may prefer to start the former Leverkusen defender against Atletico Madrid in the UCL semi final match. There is no bit of a doubt about fruitfulness of Hincapie’s arrival. The centre back has started mostly as a left back. Despite changing positions, there has been no lack of spirit in his game.
As per reports, last summer Atletico Madrid were interested in Piero Hincapie. The Spanish side even tried to strike a deal with the Ecuador international, but finally he joined the Premier League side. Piero’s teammate Cristhian Mosquera informed about Atleti’s desire to sign the 24-year-old from Leverkusen.
When Hincapie was asked about this story, he said that he is not into social media much. So he did not come to know about any offer on the table. He only knows what his agent tells him about transfer interest. He has also informed that he is grateful to God for choosing Arsenal over the Spanish club. Piero believes that the Gunners is the best team and Arteta is the best coach for him.
As per Diario as, in an interview he had said, “I don’t look at social media much. I talk to my agent. At the time of the talks, I don’t know if there was a truly concrete offer, but it’s also wonderful that so many important clubs want you on their roster. Thank God I chose this great club, with a great coach.”
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Martin Odegaard’s quality on pitch for Arsenal
The Gunners will have to face Atletico Madrid in their UCL semi final game. Arteta’s side can finally see Odegaard in the team after he has struggled a lot with this fitness this season. Hincapie was asked about Odegaard’s impact on football pitch. Another question was added to this about Martin’s injury issues. He spoke highly of his captain’s quality.
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The defender said, “The truth is, he’s a player with extraordinary qualities. Obviously, he gives us a lot in attack. With different qualities but still helping us. I don’t think it affects us at all, but we do miss a player of those qualities on the pitch.”
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Subhabrata Pal
Subhabrata Pal is a junior football writer who has contributed articles covering key developments in football. His work focuses on match events, player performances, and the narratives that shape discussions among fans and the wider football community. Through his contributions to Football Express, Subhabrata produced football coverage aimed at keeping readers informed about important moments, tactical trends, and evolving storylines. His writing blends clear reporting with analytical insights to deliver engaging and informative content for football enthusiasts.
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